[wor.ry] vb wor.ried ; wor.ry.ing [ME worien, fr. OE wyrgan; akin to OHG wurgen to strangle, Lith verzti to constrict] vt (bef. 12c) 1 dial Brit: choke, strangle
2. a: to harass by tearing, biting, or snapping esp. at the throat b: to shake or pull at with the teeth "a terrier ~ing a rat" c: to touch or disturb something repeatedly d: to change the position of or adjust by repeated pushing or hauling 3 a: to assail with rough or aggressive attack or treatment: torment b: to subject to persistent or nagging attention or effort
4: to afflict with mental distress or agitation: make anxious ~ vi 1 dial Brit: strangle, choke
2: to move, proceed, or progress by unceasing or difficult effort: struggle
3: to feel or experience concern or anxiety: fret -- wor.ried.ly adv -- wor.ri.er n -- not to worry : there is no need to be concerned: don't worry syn worry, annoy, harass, harry, plague, pester, tease mean to disturb or irritate by persistent acts. worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation "pursued a policy of worrying the enemy". annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks "you're doing that just to annoy me". harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power "harassed on all sides by creditors". harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment "the strikers had been harried by thugs". plague implies a painful and persistent affliction "plagued all her life by poverty". pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks "constantly pestered with trivial complaints". tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath "malicious children teased the dog".
[2]worry n, pl worries (1804) 1 a: mental distress or agitation resulting from concern usu. for something impending or anticipated: anxiety b: an instance or occurrence of such distress or agitation
2: a cause of worry: trouble, difficulty syn see care